Smoky Mountain Jeep invasion 2023

[Phishs]

Here’s a trail at the invasion site.

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[Kajo]

Nemos tunnel is permanently closed

I was fortunate to do Nemo Tunnel last year on July 2nd. From what I understand it was closed the next day. Below is the video. FYI, I didn't let my family know it was safe so I find the commentary from my Wife, Son, and Daughter Hilarious.

Nemo Tunnel July 2, 2022

 

[bleda2002]

We did Parsons Branch road yesterday, was a fun easy trail, lots of little water crossings with concrete bottoms and lots of up and down hills. Make sure you have gas as it's a bit of drive from the nearest gas station to the start of the trail. Definitely turn left at the end of the trail and hit the tail of the dragon shops.

Also if you do the dragon before 5 check out 129 slayer and killboy 129 for pictures of your jeep.

 

[Jglad15]

I just packed up the truck. We are leaving around 6 tomo morn from Maryland . If anyone wants to go to wind rock possibly Friday let me know. Would love to try and do the panther rock boh trail while I’m down there.

 

[GladLad]

Here’s a trail at the invasion site.

Not to say it's 100% identical every year, but here's an idea of what you get for $30. Easy, as one would expect based on description, maybe 20-30 minutes.

 

[GladLad]

We did Parsons Branch road yesterday, was a fun easy trail, lots of little water crossings with concrete bottoms and lots of up and down hills. Make sure you have gas as it's a bit of drive from the nearest gas station to the start of the trail. Definitely turn left at the end of the trail and hit the tail of the dragon shops.

Also if you do the dragon before 5 check out 129 slayer and killboy 129 for pictures of your jeep.

I'm here now, will likely do Parson's Wed or Thurs.

Got my first duck after coming out of dinner. Didn't expect a stock Mojave to get anything with all the customized jobs driving around. Probably saw my temp tags, and wanted to welcome a new Jeeper to the club

 

[bleda2002]

I'm here now, will likely do Parson's Wed or Thurs.

Got my first duck after coming out of dinner. Didn't expect a stock Mojave to get anything with all the customized jobs driving around. Probably saw my temp tags, and wanted to welcome a new Jeeper to the club

Cades cove loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays so will have to be Thursday as the only entrance is off the loop.

 

[GladLad]

Cades cove loop is closed to cars on Wednesdays so will have to be Thursday as the only entrance is off the loop.

Thanks for the heads up, that would have been a waste.

 

[zuki_dan]

I am heading up tomorrow morning. I plan on doing Cades Cove/Parson trail either Friday afternoon or Saturday.

I though about heading to Windrock also but thought it might be pretty crowded with Jeep Invasion going on. Trail 51 and 26 are both pretty good but are far apart from each other. Trail 16 takes a good part of a day to complete depending on weather and group size. There is a Warn ride at Windrock Sunday and Monday but I will be heading back home Sunday morning.

 

[GladLad]

Drove the Newfound Gap Road today. Just a windy road through the mountains, not anything Jeep related. Started at Sugarlands Visitor Center and head toward Oconaluftee Visitor Center in NC. Hit up various scenic pulloff spots along the way, and also took the 7 mile sidetrack to Clingman's Dome for the best views from the top.

Saw some Elk near end of the trip at final visitor center before heading back. With plenty of stops for pictures, visitor center shopping, walks, it was about 5 hours roundtrip. But can certainly be done faster, especially if you head up to Clingman's Dome and then just come back to Pigeon Forge without going further.

Like a watercolor painting, the mountains just keep going.

If you see this, that's me, say hi. We'll be doing Cades Cove, Parson's Branch Road and the Jeep Invasion center tomorrow if all goes to plan.

 

[GladLad]

Went out to Cades Cove this morning for the purpose of riding Parson's Branch Road. Cades Cove had a good amount of cars, but wasn't gridlock.

Parson's Branch wasn't busy at all. Had no problem stopping for pictures, and still didn't see anyone for several minutes after we finished. That may be standard, but I had wondered if the Invasion would make it busy.

Shortly after getting on we encountered a non-Jeep pickup going the wrong way. Luckily we had just passed a pulloff area and reversed to that. They said it got bumpy with big dips going uphill and turned around. That's true, but had they made it past those one or two hills it would have been smooth sailing for them after. 4H made easy work of the couple spots.

All in all, a good first offroad experience in my Jeep. I also learned that I have to pick rocks out of the tires after a road like that. It was like tap shoes on US 129.

The curves on US 129 were something else though. If I lived around there, I wouldn't have gotten rid of the motorcycle. Went left, had lunch at the grill and checked out the souvenirs. Headed back the other way, hit all the curves, made some scenic stops, and ended up going to Tuckaleechee Caverns. By the time we got back the center was done for the day, so that's on for Friday before we leave.

 

[GladLad]

Finally made it to the show today, but only did the indoor portion as we had to start heading to KY for second half of our trip.

Stopped by the Rock Hard display and bought the tube down rock sliders. No tax, no shipping, so it made the decision easy. They were my top consideration already, and once it became clear the fiance needed a step, I knew I'd end up getting them eventually anyway.

Thanks for the tips in this thread, it was a fun trip. It was totally coincidental that it occurred during Invasion weekend, but worked out great. First Invasion, first offroad, first 10 ducks, first big aftermarket purchase.

Have fun!

 

[Jglad15]

So it’s been hard to get on here this week been extremely busy. SMJI was a blast! Had a lot of fun with my Dad and son. Jeeps were literally everywhere in Pigeon forge. My kid loved going from vendor to vendor getting decals, Koozies, key chains, ducks, etc. Now the bad part…. Coming home getting off 81 in Va. I’m sitting at a light on an off ramp and a Grand Cherokee decided not to hit its brakes and rear end me, then in turn push me into the Rav 4 in front of me. Been a pain trying to get updates from USAA this week. It was Tuesday and USAA still hadn’t heard from their client. Getting annoyed. But at least no one was hurt. My bumper/hitch/tailgate is messed up and from all I can see on my front end is my head light is cracked. Compared to the other two vehicles I made out better than them. I think being lifted and having steel bumpers spared me a lil.

 

[bleda2002]

Went out to Cades Cove this morning for the purpose of riding Parson's Branch Road. Cades Cove had a good amount of cars, but wasn't gridlock.

Parson's Branch wasn't busy at all. Had no problem stopping for pictures, and still didn't see anyone for several minutes after we finished. That may be standard, but I had wondered if the Invasion would make it busy.

Shortly after getting on we encountered a non-Jeep pickup going the wrong way. Luckily we had just passed a pulloff area and reversed to that. They said it got bumpy with big dips going uphill and turned around. That's true, but had they made it past those one or two hills it would have been smooth sailing for them after. 4H made easy work of the couple spots.

All in all, a good first offroad experience in my Jeep. I also learned that I have to pick rocks out of the tires after a road like that. It was like tap shoes on US 129.

The curves on US 129 were something else though. If I lived around there, I wouldn't have gotten rid of the motorcycle. Went left, had lunch at the grill and checked out the souvenirs. Headed back the other way, hit all the curves, made some scenic stops, and ended up going to Tuckaleechee Caverns. By the time we got back the center was done for the day, so that's on for Friday before we leave.

Did you check killboy129, 129slayer and 129photos for your tail of the dragon photos?

 

[GladLad]

Did you check killboy129, 129slayer and 129photos for your tail of the dragon photos?

Yep. Just not convinced enough yet to spend $8 a pop to get any. Now if there were pics while off-roading...

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